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According to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, the FDA is working on a plan that would require food manufacturers to print nutrition information on the front of their packaging rather than on the back. The alleged goal of the proposed new mandate is to help busy shoppers quickly decipher nutrition information without having to look at the back of a product.
"Busy shoppers will be able to go into grocery stores and have some easy-to-understand information on the front of packages, giving them quick data on what is a healthier choice," she explained.
While it may seem like a good proposal that would help to improve nutrition transparency, many manufacturers are concerned that the requirement could end up needlessly costing them millions of dollars. Since packaging changes are typically very expensive, many smaller producers might be put out of business by the mandate.
James McCarthy, president and CEO of the Snack Food Association (SFA), expressed opposition to the mandate and instead proposed that the change be made voluntary. Because his organization represents 400 snack food manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, many of which are small- or medium-sized operations, he understands the incredible burden that would be placed on them by the requirement.
Comment: According to the following article Nanotechnology - the new threat to food: Several articles carried on SOTT depict the human and environmental risks of emerging nanotechnology:
Regulated or Not, Nano-Foods Coming to a Store Near You
Food Industry Too Secretive Over Nanoparticles
Scientists Scared as Nanotechnology and Nanoparticles Become Common in Consumer Products
More Research Urged on Nanoparticle Risk
Alert over the march of the 'grey goo' in nanotechnology Frankenfoods